Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-03-18
CHAPTER Y.

nt:tfu OUTSIDE inc nfu~'', ANU lh'l'Ht IL
h struck Selma what il might b.. and
given time to bolt and bar the doors.
the malcontentS of tn" common We're
ia the hall, their numbers considerably
swelled. 1t looked Formidable inva-
sion-was it murder they intended. or
was it arson, or what was it not? Sc
lima in her terror flew to the top of the
house, three stairs at a time, and the
servant maid flew screeching after her.
they both, with one accord. seized upon
a rope, and the great alarm-bell
doomed out from the Grange.
Up came the people from far and
near; up came the fire-engines, the lat
ter feeling exceedingly aggrieved at
finding no fire; the farmers. disturbed
in the midst of their pipes and ale,
rushed up from Miss Lees; Mrs. Dali
rymple and Mrs. Lynn, followed by
Reuben, also went; and, in short, every
body went.
The hall was scene of contention.
Oscar Dalrymple stood in the midst OF
his undesirable visitors; he could not
get rid of them, and they would insist
upon being heard.
Poor old Reuben, grieved to the
heart at the aspect Of affairs altogeth-
er, went outside the house. and paced
about in the moonlight, for it was a
fine light night. He had strolled near
the stables, when he was accOsted by
some one who stood aloof, under the
shade of their side wall.
whats the matter here, that peO-
pie should be running, in this way. into
the Granger"
"It's something like rise, I should
call it," answered Reuben. 1.-THE
whole estate has been put upon
awfu.ly."
:who lives at the Granger Mrs.
Dalrymplep"
"Are you a stranger, them" ssked
Reuben. ''that you do not know?'
II am stranger. Until this night
have not been in the neighborhOod
for many years. But l was formerly
on intimate terms with the Dalrymple
family, and have stayed here with
them for weeks together"
''Have You now. thought! cried
Reuben. "In the squire's time, STRIP
''In the squire's time I remember
you, think. Reuben"
ray, am, Sir. oad changes nave
taken place since then. My old masters
gone. and Mr.. Charles is gone, and tho
Grange is now Oscar Dalrymple's."
II knew of Mr.. Dalrymple's death.
What became of his sonp"
He soon followed his father. 1t
will not do to talk of, SIR"
"What was the cause of his death?"
returned the stranger.
Before Reuben could uswer, Mr..
Lee came up. and commenced a
warm comment on tho nights work.
Il hope there be no bloodshed," said
he, ''but Mr.. Dalrymple has sent off a
private messenger to the police sta
tion."
''This gentleman used to know the
family" interposed Reuben, "and has
come to the place tonight for the first
time in many years. It's q fine well
come for him, this riot"
Il was asking some particulars OF
what has TRANSFERRED since my alb
sence," explained the stranger. II
have been out Of England, and now
thought to renew my acquaintance
with that family. What did Charles
Dalrymplc die of? l knew him well. p"
''He fell into trouble, SIR" answered
Reuben. "a nasty, random, wicked
London set got hold Of him, and
fleeced and ruined him, and he could
not bear up against it.
''Died of itp" questioned the
stranger.
He killed himself" interrupted
Farmer Lee, in a low tone. ''Hc
threw himself off one of the London
bridges one night Westminster.
wasn't it, ReubenP'
"How deplorable!' said the stranger,
after o pause. "Was he buried heref
Can you show me his graveP"
HE was never found, SIR" m.
swered Reuben. His hat was, but
his body was not The tide carried it
away"
"And so the Grange passed to Oscar
DalrympleP" 49, 3
ried the eldest daughter. Selma, Mr..
Charles sister. And something not
pleasant was up about them. They
went to London, and Mrs. Oscar got
into debt, and her husband brought
her back here; and since then he has
been an awful landlord, grinding US
down to powder. 1 rent under him. ~
Oscar Dalrrymple was always q
grasping man."
"Ah, SIR, but you have no conception
what he Is now," returned Mr.. Lee;
there's not more cruel tyrant going.
We are most of us to be turned out
next week from the farms that have
sheltered us all our lives, that we have
spent our savings upon and improved
TO what they are. And-as you know
the place, sir, you must remember
some poor cottages on the common"
every well"
''He has taken It in his head to build
finer in their places, but the poor la
borers would not 60 out, for there was
no other low-rcnted novels for them to
turn to. So he pulled the roofs of, and
forced them out, and they are living in
barns, without any better shelter.
These are the men that are making the
disturbance indoors now. Then
Thomas-but it's of no use troubling
stranger with these details. He's
playing old Nick over us, sir. and moth
that took Mr.. Charles"
der him, you thinkp"
''Thinkg' Indignantly cried the
farmer. I'D give the half of what I
have saved, for the sake of myself and
those around me, if Mr.. Charles was
-sqgire now" he added. in q burst of
generosity. 1--WE have never called
this one squire: not a man on the
estate"
Ibid Mr.. Charles owe much in this
neighborhood when he dledp"
Nothing at ALL"
"Does he owe you nothinga"
''Me!' echoed Farmer Lee. mot
he. had scnt some money to him
just before it xappened. and 1 did fear
there was something wrong about that;
in short. 1 thought it was lost; but it
was returned to me afterwc I'd. all
safe"
do you know" cried the stranger,
after pause of consideration, at APP
pears to me that you assume t. easily
the fact of Charles Dalrymple's death.
He may be alive. His body was never